William Rice (1788–1863)

William Rice (March 13, 1788 – February 11, 1863)^[1] was a Massachusetts businessman.

He was born in Belchertown, Massachusetts to Nathan Rice, a Revolutionary war veteran, and Hepzibah Allen. He was a direct descendent of Edmund Rice (1638)

He grew up in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, but moved to Springfield, Massachusetts in 1818, were he remained for the rest of his life. He was involved in the mercantile business for a while. He was elected Register of Deeds for Hampden County in 1830, which he continued for 30 years. In 1838, he was elected County Treasurer.

He was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he contributed to all three Methodist churches in Springfield. He was one of the founders of Wilbraham Wesleyan Academy, giving it a third of its land.

He married Jerusha Warriner, a descendent of William Warriner, who settled in Springfield in 1640. Their son William Rice was a methodist minister and later librarian.^[2]

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